2 syllables: Re, vue. Stress on vue.
riv-YOO
/ɹɪˈvju/
Revue is pronounced riv-YOO (/ɹɪˈvju/). It has two syllables (Re-vue), with the stress on "vue". Revue is a noun referring to a theatrical or literary review, often a staged revue featuring songs, sketches, and dances. The term is borrowed from French, commonly used in English to denote a light, entertaining performance or a critical periodical piece. It emphasizes variety and spectacle rather than a deep, formal critique.
nounRevue is a noun referring to a theatrical or literary review, often a staged revue featuring songs, sketches, and dances. The term is borrowed from French, commonly used in English to denote a light, entertaining performance or a critical periodical piece. It emphasizes variety and spectacle rather than a deep, formal critique.
"The Parisian revue featured dazzling costumes and lively songs."
"She reviewed the latest theatre revue in the Sunday edition."
"The troupe mounted a Broadway-style revue that mixed comedy and music."
Pronounce it as /rɪˈvjuː/. The first syllable is unstressed: ri-; the second syllable carries primary stress: vyoo. The initial sound is the rolling ‘r’ or tapped ‘r’ depending on accent, followed by a short i as in ‘kit,’ then a clear /v/ and a long /juː/ (as in ‘you’). In careful speech, you’ll hear the two-syllable structure clearly: ri-VYOO. For audio reference, compare the US/UK pronunciations in standard dictionaries that show /rɪˈvjuː/.
Common errors: (1) Overemphasizing the second syllable to /-VYOO/ without the short first syllable, (2) misarticulating the /j/ as a hard /dʒ/ or /ʒ/ sound instead of /j/ as in ‘you,’ (3) dropping the final -e or turning it into /-ju/ instead of /-juː/ in some accents. Corrections: keep the first syllable with a light /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ vowel, ensure the /v/ is voiced, and glide smoothly into /juː/ with a clear /j/ onset and rounded lips for the /uː/.
In US and UK English, the core is /rɪˈvjuː/ with secondary stress on the first syllable in rapid speech and a long /juː/ in the second. Australians typically maintain the same sequence but may reduce the vowel length slightly in connected speech, producing /rəˈvjuː/ in fast talk. The rhotic difference in US/others affects the initial /r/ quality, while /juː/ often becomes more of a /ju/ glide in quicker speech. IPA references help confirm these shifts.
It challenges non-native speakers due to the French-origin -eue ending, which yields /juː/ that isn’t intuitive in many languages. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable is short and unstressed, requiring precise timing with the stressed second syllable. The /v/ and /j/ sequence in /vjuː/ demands a smooth lip rounding and a precise palate position for the /j/ consonant. Mastery involves practicing the two-syllable rhythm and the exact glide into /juː/.
Yes—its final vowel sound /juː/ is a key feature. The spelling -eue represents a French-derived vowel cluster that English speakers often render as /juː/ with a smooth y-glide. This makes the end sound fairly long and rounded, contrasting with a quick /ju/ or a clipped /juː/ depending on dialect. Maintaining the distinct /juː/ helps preserve the word’s French lineage and common English usage.
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Revue originates from the French word revue, meaning “a review” or “a survey.” Its path into English can be traced to 19th-century theater and publications, where it described a type of performance or periodical that reviews or showcases current arts. The root is the French verb revoir, meaning ‘to see again’ or ‘to review,’ from the Latin videre ‘to see.’ In English usage, the term gained prominence in the performing arts as a light, entertaining program of songs, dances, and sketches, often satirical. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, revue had become a conventional label for revue-style productions and compiled review magazines, especially in literary circles. The spelling with -eue reflects French orthography, and in English pronunciation it is commonly anglicized with an initial /r/ and a silent or lightly pronounced final -e, depending on speaker. First known use in English literature appears in theatre and periodical contexts around the mid-1800s, evolving to include both stage productions and cultural reviews in modern usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Revue"
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